What time do the Socceroos play Paraguay today, and where can I watch the game? Your guide to Australia at the 2026 Fifa World Cup

What channel is the World Cup on, and how can I watch it live on TV or

You can watch every match live on SBS and SBS Viceland, and our alarm? Honestly, it won’t even be that bad. The Socceroos group matches in the western region all kick off between 5am and 2pm. If they progress to the knockout stage there could be an earlier start, but surely the kick-off times lose relevance the deeper they go

Socceroos face selection conundrum with changes expected for Paraguay game | Jack Snape
Read more

The Guardian is live-blogging all 104 matches. Reporter Jack Snape is on the ground covering the Socceroos as part of a 15-strong team of correspondents bringing you match reports, analysis, features and news from across Canada, Mexico and the US, plus a team of journalists in Australia with reaction from around the country

Keep an eye on Guardian Australia socials for Socceroos analysis, plus daily podcasts from the team at Football Weekly

What time do Australia play their World Cup games? Full schedule of the Socceroos fixtures

Group stage
Game 1: Australia 2-0 Turkey, BC Place, Vancouver
Game 2: USA 2-0 Australia, Seattle Stadium
Game 3: Friday 26 June – Paraguay v Australia, 12pm, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

The top two teams in each group advance to the last 32 – with the USA locking in top spot already – along with the eight best third-placed teams based on points, then on goal difference and then on number of goals. Turkey can’t progress, leaving Australia and Paraguay battling for second and third place

Possible last 32 matches depending on Group D position30 June: Germany v 3ABCDF, 6.30am, Boston Stadium
1 July: 1I v 3CDFGH, 7am, New York/New Jersey Stadium
4 July: 2D v 2G, 4am, Dallas Stadium
4 July: 1K v 3DEIJL, 11.10am, Kansas City Stadium

Where are the main live sites around Australia to watch World Cup games?

Take a deep breath … after the briefest of bans, the Socceroos are back on the big screen at Federation Square in Melbourne. Here are some more live sites where you can watch the action:

New South Wales

• Sydney: Parramatta Square, Tumbalong Park, Allianz Stadium, Playford Park in Bankstown, Blacktown Football Park, Henley Park in Enfield, Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, Rouse Hill Town Centre, Phillips Park in Lurnea, Hammondville Oval in Moorebank, Cirillo Reserve in Middleton Grange, Webbs Avenue in Auburn, Dyin Ngurra (Merrylands Civic Square)

• Regional: Jamberoo Pub (with the added bonus of a visit to the Johnny Warren Museum)

Victoria

• Melbourne:Federation Square, AAMI Park, Marvel Stadium, Broadmeadows Town Hall, Maddern Square in Footscray

• Regional:Johnstone Park in Geelong, Alfred Deakin Place in Ballarat, Hargreaves Mall in Bendigo, Gippsland Performing Arts Centre in Traralgon, Shepparton Showgrounds

More locations

• Adelaide:The Drive

• Perth:Northbridge Piazza

• Brisbane:Southbank

• Darwin:Darwin Football Stadium

Which countries are hosting the 2026 World Cup?

Along with Mexico and the US, Canada is the third co-host in 2026 – the first time three nations have shared hosting responsibilities. South Korea and Japan were the first and only other co-hosts in 2002, which some Australians may remember fondly for its agreeable kick-off times even if the Socceroos were not present

This time there are 16 host cities (two in Canada, three in Mexico and 11 in the US – the selection process was a World Cup in itself) which have been split up into western, central and eastern regions

Which teams are in Australia’s group and who else has qualified?

‘Chuck it on the iPad’: Socceroo urges schools to show Australia’s final World Cup group game
Read more

The Socceroos were drawn in Group D with co-hosts USA, Paraguay and Turkey. According to Fifa’s rankings, the USA are the top team in the group at world No 16. Turkey, who were last to book their spot in April, are next at No 22, with Australia 27th and Paraguay 40th. Focused just on the 48 teams qualified for the World Cup, the Guardian’s power rankings have Turkey at 23rd, the USA at 24th, Australia 28th, Paraguay 32nd.

This is the first outing for this bloated competition. There are nine teams each from Africa and Asia, 16 from Europe, one from Oceania, six from South America, and six from North America, Central America and the Caribbean including the three host nations. The biggest shock (or not, to some) was Italy’s failure to qualify for the third time in a row. Still paying their dues for Fabio Grosso’s dive in 2006?

The final 26-man squad was announced after the Socceroos’ 1-0 loss to Mexico in their second-last outing before the tournament. Coach Tony Popovic rolled the dice by choosing two uncapped strikers, including Cristian Volpato, who only just changed his allegiance from Italy to Australia. The other is Tete Yengi, with youth edging out experience across the pitch. Kye Rowles, Brandon Borello and Martin Boyle are notable omissions, while veterans Mathew Leckie, Harry Souttar, Maty Ryan, Jackson Irvine and Aziz Behich survived the cull, with Mo Touré and Nestory Irankunda ready to be unleashed up front.

Socceroos squad bursting with youthful enthusiasm promises a compelling World Cup | Jack Snape
Read more

How did Australia’s national football team perform at the last World Cup?

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Socceroos were sent packing in the least-worst way possible: by pushing the eventual champions Argentina to the very end of their round of 16 clash. Despite ultimately losing 1-2 and ensuring Lionel Messi’s quest for World Cup glory remained on track, Australia returned home as heroes

What are the other big World Cup stories?

Where to start? On costs, with inflated ticket prices and transport costs it’s going to be an expensive tournament for everyone, except maybe the winning team. On climate, there are concerns about unsafe heat conditions and the tournament’s environmental impact. And on the hosts, ICE will be a “key part” of World Cup security which has human rights groups worried, while Iran will move their base from Arizona to Mexico amid the war with the US. There will be plenty of news off the pitch.